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Monthly Archives: June 2017

A study of the 27 MILLION PESOS in checks seized from a Maute sniper position revealed that the checks date back to 2014 – 2016 thus are not negotiable anymore (due to a six month maximum allowable period). The 52 MILLION PESOS in cash are genuine legal tender. Authorities are still at a loss as to where all the money came from and are looking into the DRUG angle to explain the loot.

P79-M worth of checks, cash found by PH Marines in Maute lair

Members of the Philippine Marines on Monday recovered P79 million in cash and checks from a house that used to be a sniper position of the Maute Group in Marawi City.

A total of P27 million worth of checks and P52 million worth of cash in bundles were discovered in one of the houses in Barangay (village) Mapandi during the clearing operations of some troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 on Monday.

There will be an investigation as to where the money came from, Ltc. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said in a press briefing Tuesday.

“We will not speculate here. We will wait for the facts after the investigation,” he said.

The Marawi crisis reached its 15th day on Tuesday and nearly 200 people have been killed and thousands have fled.

But the recovered cash and checks may indicate that the Maute group is on the run.

“The government troops are sustaining… The recovery of cash indicates the Maute is running and the troops are pressing in,” Herrera said.

The gunbattle started with the military’s botched raid against Abu Sayyaf senior leader Isnilon Hapilon but reinforcements from the Maute Group came.

Hapilon is also reportedly the emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia. IDL/rga

P79-M in cash, checks found in fallen Maute stronghold

Report from Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News

Jun 06 2017

MANILA – (UPDATED) State forces discovered Monday at least P79 million in cash and checks in a house in Marawi City after retaking a stronghold of the Maute fighters they have been battling since last month.

The Philippine Marines first found P52.2 million in cash at a house located near the extremists’ machine gun nest in the Mapandi area.

Of this amount, P52 million was wrapped in plastic bundles while P200,000 was stashed in envelopes.

The troops then found checks worth P27 million in the same house, bringing the total amount of the haul to P79 million.

Authorities said the owner of the house was likely among the 200,000 residents who fled from Marawi after Maute and other bandit groups attacked the city on May 23.

Investigators are now looking into the cash and check’s paper trail to confirm if the money is connected to terrorist operations.

President Duterte earlier said that Maute terrorists are being funded by foreign terror groups and illegal drug money.

The fighting in Marawi has prompted Duterte to place the entire Mindanao island under martial rule.

A presidential spokesman said 120 militants have died in the battle, along with 38 government forces. The authorities have put the civilian death toll at between 20 and 38.

Authorities recover P79 million in cash and checks in Marawi home

CNN Philippines Staff

June 6, 2017

Marawi City (CNN Philippines, June 6) — Government forces recovered almost ₱80 million in cash and checks after flushing out Maute fighters in a house in Marawi City on Monday.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, the spokesperson of Task Force Marawi and Marine officers said ₱52.2 million in cash and P27 million-worth of stale checks were found inside a vault during a house-to-house clearing operation near Mapandi bridge.

Task Force Marawi spokesperson Jo-Ar Herrera said an M-16 rifle and several firearms were also recovered after government forces took over what they called a “machine gun nest.”

Herrera said they requested for an investigation on the cash and checks, and as to who owns the house, which he described as “well-built.”

Marine Major Rowan Rimas said it is possible the house is owned by a Maute member.

“It was under the control of the Maute group because prior to the assault of the troops, there is a gun mount in that area. And our troops were being fired upon,” he said.

He said the recovered cash and checks, including some indicating “pay to cash,” show the Maute group is on the run.

“The Maute group, they have defensive positions. They have a very capable group. But the recovery of those millions of cash indicate that they are running, because the government troops are pressing in,” he said.

Herrera said based on the location where the machine gun nest was found, “it can be explained very clearly that position was in control of the Maute.”

The money and checks were turned over to the Joint Task Force Marawi for safekeeping.

Government troops have been fightng Maute members in Marawi since May 23. The terrorists resisted an arrest order for Isnilon Hapilon, whom ISIS recognizes as its leader in the country. He is believed to be still in the area.

Hapilon is allegedly working with the Maute group to establish a “wilayat,” or caliphate of ISIS in Lanao del Sur.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus over the entire Mindanao island region on May 23 in response to the violence in Marawi.

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Share Share Share – Breaking News: Like Like Like —–>>>>> @Duterte https://www.facebook.com/MetroManilaKilusangPagbabago/ ***** At least 34 DEAD by fire caused by armed man who attacked, robbed and set fire to Resorts World Manila. Gunman believed to have killed himself by setting his room on fire then shot himself with a pistol. #ResortsWorldManila

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AT least 34 people have been killed after a masked gunman stormed a Manila casino and set fire to gambling tables before burning himself to death.

The horrific death toll was revealed by sources at the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection, who said most died from smoke billowing out of the flaming tables.

According to reports, the man, who is thought to be a white “English speaker”, raced into the Resorts World Manila complex shortly after midnight and fires at TV screens.

As terrified guests began screaming and running for the exits, the gunman pulled out a can of gasoline, poured it over gaming tables and set it ablaze.

He then stuffed his rucksack with £175,000 of casino chips before fleeing in the mayhem.

Shortly after midnight, shots and loud bangs rang out at the popular Resorts World Manila complex, which is close to close to Terminal Three of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and an air force base.

Mr dela Rosa said the “foreign looking, Caucasian gunman” burst into the casino, fired shots and set gaming tables alight, sowing panic in a country on high alert after martial law was declared in the south.

“He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino, shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting it on fire,” he said.

“We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room.

Smoke was seen billowing from the upper story of the complex’s hotel wing hours after the initial assault as police worked to clear the resort room by room.

Hours later, Metropolitan Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde says the English-speaking suspect was found dead around dawn with his rifle on the fifth floor of the Resorts World Manila complex.

The suspect reportedly took 113 million pesos ($3 million) worth of gambling chips, which were found in a bag he was carrying.

Mr Abayalde said there was no indication of terrorism, and that authorities believe the suspect either lost in the casino and wanted to get his money back, or went “totally nuts”.

Officials said at least 54 people were hurt, some seriously, as they rushed to escape what at first had been feared as a militant attack.

Large numbers of police massed outside as smoke rose from the hotel and shopping complex, which according to its website holds the largest casino resort in the country.

Resorts World Manila said on social media it was in lock down.

Witnesses at the scene reported armed police entering a hotel near the complex, while videos posted earlier on social media showed people fleeing as several loud bangs were heard.

People caught up in panic following the incident were being treated at a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation and fractures, hospital staff said.

The Philippines has been on heightened alert amid a crisis in the south of the country, where troops have been battling Islamist rebels since May 23.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the southern island of Mindanao last week.

Police chief dela Rosa said it was possible militant group Islamic State would claim responsibility for the incident for propaganda purposes.

President Duterte has said he fears Islamic State’s “terrible ideology” will spread on Mindanao, an island of 22 million people, and has warned it could become a haven for supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria.

ABC NewsAustralia

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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday confirmed that the lone gunman behind the attack on Resorts World Manila is dead.

Dela Rosa, who earlier claimed that the gunman was killed after resisting arrest, said that the suspect set himself on fire in one of the rooms at the hotel.

Earlier, the police chief said the gunman was a foreigner, a Caucasian who appeared to stand six-foot tall.

He, however, denied reports that the international terror group ISIS was responsible for the attack.

“There is a lone man who entered the second floor of Resorts World Manila. He was carrying an M4 rifle and he burned gambling tables. He did not shoot anyone,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters at the police command center in the hotel complex.

Police are eyeing robbery, not terrorism, as motive behind the shooting for the suspect stole P130 million worth of casino chips.

Police, composed of members of Special Action Force (SAF) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), are still in the area. IDL

Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Cops release photo of suspect in RW attack; say he acted alone

ABS-CBN NEWS

Jun 02 2017

The Philippine National Police released screenshots of the lone gunman that went on a rampage at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City early Friday morning.

The still unidentified gunman was seen wearing a bonnet, a gray sweatshirt, and armed with a “baby Armalite”.

Authorities have yet to confirm the gunman’s identity and nationality as he burned himself to death in a Maxims Hotel room.

Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa ruled out terrorism as the motive of the attack as the suspect neither threatened nor harmed civilians.

#ResortsWorldManila

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Share Share Share – Breaking News: Like Like Like —–>>>>> @Duterte https://www.facebook.com/MetroManilaKilusangPagbabago/ ***** At least 34 DEAD by fire caused by armed man who attacked, robbed and set fire to Resorts World Manila. Gunman believed to have killed himself by setting his room on fire then shot himself with a pistol. #ResortsWorldManila

******

AT least 34 people have been killed after a masked gunman stormed a Manila casino and set fire to gambling tables before burning himself to death.

The horrific death toll was revealed by sources at the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection, who said most died from smoke billowing out of the flaming tables.

According to reports, the man, who is thought to be a white “English speaker”, raced into the Resorts World Manila complex shortly after midnight and fires at TV screens.

As terrified guests began screaming and running for the exits, the gunman pulled out a can of gasoline, poured it over gaming tables and set it ablaze.

He then stuffed his rucksack with £175,000 of casino chips before fleeing in the mayhem.

Shortly after midnight, shots and loud bangs rang out at the popular Resorts World Manila complex, which is close to close to Terminal Three of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and an air force base.

Mr dela Rosa said the “foreign looking, Caucasian gunman” burst into the casino, fired shots and set gaming tables alight, sowing panic in a country on high alert after martial law was declared in the south.

“He parked at the second floor and barged into the casino, shooting large TV screens and poured gasoline on a table setting it on fire,” he said.

“We are looking into a robbery angle because he did not hurt any people and went straight to the casino chips storage room.

Smoke was seen billowing from the upper story of the complex’s hotel wing hours after the initial assault as police worked to clear the resort room by room.

Hours later, Metropolitan Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde says the English-speaking suspect was found dead around dawn with his rifle on the fifth floor of the Resorts World Manila complex.

The suspect reportedly took 113 million pesos ($3 million) worth of gambling chips, which were found in a bag he was carrying.

Mr Abayalde said there was no indication of terrorism, and that authorities believe the suspect either lost in the casino and wanted to get his money back, or went “totally nuts”.

Officials said at least 54 people were hurt, some seriously, as they rushed to escape what at first had been feared as a militant attack.

Large numbers of police massed outside as smoke rose from the hotel and shopping complex, which according to its website holds the largest casino resort in the country.

Resorts World Manila said on social media it was in lock down.

Witnesses at the scene reported armed police entering a hotel near the complex, while videos posted earlier on social media showed people fleeing as several loud bangs were heard.

People caught up in panic following the incident were being treated at a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation and fractures, hospital staff said.

The Philippines has been on heightened alert amid a crisis in the south of the country, where troops have been battling Islamist rebels since May 23.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law on the southern island of Mindanao last week.

Police chief dela Rosa said it was possible militant group Islamic State would claim responsibility for the incident for propaganda purposes.

President Duterte has said he fears Islamic State’s “terrible ideology” will spread on Mindanao, an island of 22 million people, and has warned it could become a haven for supporters fleeing Iraq and Syria.

ABC NewsAustralia

******

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday confirmed that the lone gunman behind the attack on Resorts World Manila is dead.

Dela Rosa, who earlier claimed that the gunman was killed after resisting arrest, said that the suspect set himself on fire in one of the rooms at the hotel.

Earlier, the police chief said the gunman was a foreigner, a Caucasian who appeared to stand six-foot tall.

He, however, denied reports that the international terror group ISIS was responsible for the attack.

“There is a lone man who entered the second floor of Resorts World Manila. He was carrying an M4 rifle and he burned gambling tables. He did not shoot anyone,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters at the police command center in the hotel complex.

Police are eyeing robbery, not terrorism, as motive behind the shooting for the suspect stole P130 million worth of casino chips.

Police, composed of members of Special Action Force (SAF) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), are still in the area. IDL

Philippine Daily Inquirer

**********************

Cops release photo of suspect in RW attack; say he acted alone

ABS-CBN News

Jun 02 2017

The Philippine National Police released screenshots of the lone gunman that went on a rampage at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City early Friday morning.

The still unidentified gunman was seen wearing a bonnet, a gray sweatshirt, and armed with a “baby Armalite”.

Authorities have yet to confirm the gunman’s identity and nationality as he burned himself to death in a Maxims Hotel room.

Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa ruled out terrorism as the motive of the attack as the suspect neither threatened nor harmed civilians.